The Indian government is set to launch a special program on August 15th to remediate 44% of the country's legacy waste in urban areas within a year. This "Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme" aims to significantly reduce legacy waste and boost waste processing capacity. The initiative comes as the government strives to meet its Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 target of achieving zero dumpsites by 2026.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced the program at an event focusing on Swachh Survekshan, emphasizing the considerable challenge of remediating legacy waste in major cities. The central government will also provide incentives to states and cities to encourage the establishment of more solid waste treatment plants.

Legacy dumpsites pose substantial environmental and health risks, including greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater and surface water pollution, air pollution, and the potential for surface fires. These unscientifically designed landfills are known sources of pollution due to the generation of hazardous leachates and emissions.

The Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, launched in 2021, has set aside a significant financial outlay of Rs 1,41,600 crore, emphasizing source segregation, material recovery facilities, phasing out single-use plastics, construction and demolition waste processing, and the remediation of all legacy dumpsites in the country. As of now, approximately 50% of the land occupied by legacy dumpsites has been freed.

Remediation of legacy waste dumpsites involves more than just cleaning up old waste; it also addresses any unscientifically managed dumpsite that poses long-term environmental and public health hazards. Indian dumpsites typically contain a mixture of legacy waste and fresh municipal solid waste, but the composition and characteristics of legacy waste differ from fresh waste.

The remediation process includes several key steps:

• Excavation: Loaders and excavators are used to systematically excavate the legacy waste.
• Gas Venting and Leachate Drainage: Before excavation, gases are vented, and leachate is drained and treated to prevent environmental contamination.
• Screening and Segregation: The excavated waste is screened to separate different components.
• Recycling: Recyclables like glass and metals are recovered, sorted, pre-treated, and sent to recycling industries.
• Bioremediation and Bi mining: Efforts to bioremediate and biomine legacy waste dumpsites have gained traction in recent years.
• Scientific Disposal: Extracted fractions of legacy waste are utilized, and the remaining waste is disposed of scientifically.
• Land Reclamation: The reclaimed land is re-utilized.

Essential infrastructure for dumpsite remediation includes a secure entrance gate, security and reception office, weighing bridge, records room, laboratory, medical room, workers' area, parking for vehicles, administrative building, temporary storage areas, environmental monitoring unit, leachate collection and treatment unit, fire control unit, waste drying and windrow area, and a toilet-bath complex.

To ensure successful remediation, cities need to carefully plan their strategies, considering the scale of operation, available land, and appropriate disposal methods for fresh waste and rejects. Complete reclamation requires appropriate processing techniques and linkages for recovered materials. Post-remediation, the recovered site should be used appropriately, with ongoing monitoring to prevent the release of toxic leachate or harmful fumes.

The remediation of legacy waste dumpsites is a high priority for city authorities across India. By clearing these sites, India can establish a more scientific and sustainable solid waste management system, promoting decentralization and a circular economy.